Can You Freeze Pancake Batter?

Updated onJuly 2, 2018

Can you freeze pancake batter? Who doesn’t love waking up to piles of fluffy pancakes in the morning? Pancake batter can either be made from scratch or store-bought. Whatever type of pancake batter you are using, we’re happy to report that the batter freezes so well with little loss of quality. Freezing the batter makes sense if you are planning to whip up a large batch of pancakes or if you have a lot of leftover batter in your hands.

While freezing the batter will not affect the flavor of the pancakes, they will lose their fluffiness in the process. Most pancake batter contains baking powder, a leavening agent that activates itself when liquid is added to the batter.

Unfortunately, the activation of baking soda is single acting. Once it’s been activated and the batter is frozen, the pancakes won’t rise. So don’t be surprised if the pancakes come out thinner or flatter once you’ve frozen and defrosted the batter. Before packing the pancake batter for freezing, check the list of ingredients for baking soda.

Should You Freeze Pancake Batter?

While we do not recommend freezing pancake batter made with baking soda, you can do it if left with no choice. Freezing the batter is the better option than throwing perfectly usable leftover batter in the trash. In addition, freezing the batter is a great idea if you are always busy in the morning with almost zero time to prep for breakfast. Just defrost the pancake batter the night before and you can go ahead and make yummy pancakes first thing in the morning. If you are only making a few pancakes at a time, freezing the batter is a terrific idea.

Below is a step by step guide on how to freeze pancake batter properly.

How to Freeze Pancake Batter?

Freezing pancake batter is so easy. You can either use a shallow container with an airtight lid or a resealable plastic bag to store the batter.

If you are using a shallow container with an airtight lid, pour the batter into the container. Do not fill the container all the way to the brim. Leave about two inches of space so the batter has room to expand as it freezes. Cover the container with the airtight lid. Write the storage date then stick in the freezer.

If you are using a resealable plastic bag to freeze the batter, simply pour the batter into the bag. Again, do not fill the plastic bag fully. Leave about a few inches of space so the batter has room to expand as it freezes.

If the leftover batter is not enough to fill the plastic bag fully, fold the plastic bag so it stores flat in the freezer. Squeeze out as much air as you can then seal the plastic bag carefully. Write the storage date then stick in the freezer.

Shelf Life and Thawing Suggestions

When kept in the freezer, pancake batter will keep up to three months. To thaw the frozen pancake batter, just transfer the product to the fridge and leave it to defrost overnight.

If you are pressed for time, you can leave a pack of frozen batter to thaw on the kitchen counter. This may cause the liquids to separate so give the batter a good stir before using. Also, watch out for leaks!

If you used a resealable plastic bag to freeze the pancake batter, snip one of the corners of the bag for easy (and mess-free) pouring.

Summary
Can you freeze pancake batter? Although most culinary experts advice against freezing pancake batter, it can be done as a last-ditch effort to avoid waste. Pancakes made with frozen and defrosted pancake batter has a denser texture so don’t be surprised about the different mouthfeel. Just keep all these storage tips in mind before freezing the pancake batter so you’ll do it right the first time.